Community First Tax Associates Policy on Privacy

Tax returns are private and confidential information which taxpayers should expect that their accountant will return their financial information with the utmost respect. Every tax preparation firm has its own privacy policy.  It would be wise to ask your tax professional for a copy of his or her policy. Our privacy policy is shown below which we give to all  tax clients. It provides important information about how our clients can protect the confidential nature of his or her tax information.

Client Confidentiality

Tax returns and and accompanying information are confidential and are not be disclosed to federal or state agencies, or to federal or state employees, or to any third party, except as specified by law. Disclosure of tax return information to federal or state agencies or employees is governed by IRS Code 6103.

A tax professional who uses information from a tax return for any purpose other than to prepare a tax return,  and or makes an unauthorized disclosure of return information, is subject to a $250 penalty for each disclosure, up to a maximum penalty of $10,000. If the action is done knowingly or recklessly, the professional may be subject to criminal penalties or fine up to $1,000, or up to a year in jail, or both, together with the cost of prosecution as provided for by the IRS Code 6713 and 7216.

Confidential tax return information includes all of the following: taxpayer’s identity, nature, source or amount of income, payments, receipts, deductions, net worth, tax liability, deficiencies, closing agreements, and information regarding actual or possible investigation of a return.

Disclosure of Information

Our current and former clients information is not disclosed in the scope of our business practice except as required or allowed by law.  Allowed disclosure includes providing information to our employees.

Protection and Storage of Records

Community First Tax Associates stores records relating to professional services that we provide giving us the ability to assist you with your professional needs while compliant with federal and state laws regarding retaining tax returns. We employ a three pronged approach to guard your personal information by maintaining physical, electronic, while abiding by procedural safeguards.

Sharing any of your confidential tax return information with a third-party (person or company) is categorically prohibited . This includes by is not limited your identity, income, net worth, tax liabilities, or other protected information to the Internal Revenue Service, state tax authorities, unmarried partners, friends, relatives, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, banks, or any other person or company without your written authorization via IRS Form 8821.